Cubs considered being sellers before trade deadline

There's a fine line between competing for a playoff spot and falling out of the race entirely. The Cubs were toeing that line as they neared the All-Star break this season and team president Theo Epstein had some decisions to make.

He nearly made trades which would have sent ripples across the entire league.

Theo said he would have seriously considered trading players had Cubs fell 8 1/2-9 1/2 games out.

"If we had fallen to eight, nine games out (of the NL Central lead) we would have been certainly looking at considering moving some players who are rentals but we immediately played great out of the stretch and didn’t have to head down that road," Epstein told reporters Tuesday.

Notable Cubs players which are scheduled to be free agents next season include pitchers John Lackey, Jake Arrieta, and Wade Davis.